John let his subconscious mind drives the car while his thoughts drive him to things that had happened lately. Deep in his heart, he regrets what he had done. In his mind, he kept questioning why his wife did that to him. Ten years together made him believe that he knows her well, but this issue makes him realized that maybe he does not. He is ready to put aside his ego and feelings to mend things. For his family.
He decided to make a turn to nearby downtown before going home. As he walks to his car with some groceries bag in his hand, his eyes lock on the beautiful lily flower bouquet made by the lady, guess maybe the shop owner. He locks his car after putting the groceries in the car and makes his walk to the flower shop just a few stores away in the corner. He put his hand on the pocket while the other rub his jaw. The lady comes out of the shop after she spotted John outside.
'Can I help you?', asked Sabrina.
John turns his face to Sabrina. 'Um, do you have white lily flowers?'
Sabrina smiles 'Yes, mister. Wait for a second', Sabrina makes her way in the shop and comes back after a few moments. She hands it to John.
'Exactly', John said. His laugh a little. 'How much it is?'
'It would be $10', replied Sabrina.
John surprised 'Is it is cheaper?' while holding it.
'That's the price', said Sabrina. John handed $10 note to Sabrina. 'Thank You, Mister'
John looks at her name tag 'Your Welcome. It's beautiful. She's gonna love this'
'That's her favourite, right?'
'Yeah', John responded unbelievably 'Her most favourite'
'Send my regard to her', said Sabrina. John nodded and made his way to the car.
'Haley, you spell your name wrong', said Harvey while holding his pencil.
Both of them doing their homework at the dining table. Kate prefers to stay close with her kids, so she asks them to finish their homework there wherever she busy with the dinner meal. She thought it will easy for her to monitor her kids and help them with their schoolwork.
'You shouldn't spell that way. It would be H-A-L-L-I-E-H-G. I don't even know how to pronounce that' said Harvey again, tempted to mend his little sister's fault.
Sitting down at the end of the table with her crayon scattered, she fights back for what she thought was right 'It spells right. I know how to spell my name', her soft voice replied.
'It should be', Harvey starts to jot down the spelling on Haley's colouring paper 'H-A-L-L-E-I-G-H', and he continued 'B-L-A-K-E K-I-N-G-S-L-E-Y, that your name', teach Harvey. Haley took her rubber and jot down the new spelling.
'Now, I want you to pronounce your name after me 'Halleigh Blake Kingsley'
Haley repeats after his brother but the way she pronounces it tickles Kate's heart while she stirring on the broth. She watches quietly at her kids.
'Halles Blake Kingsey', repeat little Haley. Harvey rolls his eyes and he might just take it when he finally realized that his sister might not pronounce it well due to missing up front teeth. Kate shook her head and smiles while continue to cook. As John slowly park his car outside the garage, the sound of the car catches Haley's attention.
'It's daddy!', said Haley and her eyes on Harvey with excitement. Leaving their schoolwork on the table, both of them rushes to the door and see John showed up. Haley grabs her dad's leg as soon as she saw him. John kissed both of them on their cheeks.
'My Teletubbies. Oh, is a mom here?', asked John.
'Yes, she's in the kitchen', replied Harvey. John put little Haley on his lap while Harvey standing next to him.
'Is it true Mom's brother come here today?', asked Harvey. John messed with Harvey's brown hair 'Yeap. Are you guys excited?'
'Yeah', Harvey responded. Little Haley cannot help but curious 'Is he looks like Mom?'
John laughs a little 'Yeah, he does'. John takes out two wrapped chocolate bars and gives it to his kids. 'Promise me, this matter only between us three', John put his index finger at his mouth. Harvey and Haley put the chocolate bars in their hand and hide it at their back while copy the same gesture as John did before both of them run to upstairs. John can't help but smile watching his kids. He walks slowly to the kitchen while grabbing a bag of groceries and hiding a flower bouquet behind his back.
'Hi Honey', greets John while he put the groceries at the kitchen counter 'I got us some groceries'
Kate approaches the kitchen counter and checked on the stuff 'Oh, pickles!', she took out a jar of pickles 'Thank you babe' she cannot stop smiling.
John watches Kate behaviour and smiles. He gathered words to say just like those time when he purposed Kate near the waterfront. 'I got you something', he showed the lily flowers bouquet and handed it to Kate.
John steadily studies his wife's face reaction and that has not changed ever since they met.
'I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to yell at you or hurt you. I should ask appropriately…'
Kate put her finger on his lips 'Shuhhh, it's okay. I understand it. I should come clean and you're right' Kate lean closer to John's face until she could feel his breath 'I was worried that it would hurt you, and our relationship'
John put his hand on Kate's waist and kissed her on the forehead 'I promise that it would not happen again'. Kate smiles and she kissed her husband softly on his lips 'I'll tell you everything'. John nodded and release the grip as Kate mentioned the soup that still left cook on the gas. John took out a bottle of cold mineral water and feels deep freshened. He leans on the kitchen counter while watching Kate 'Hon, did sam told you where is he now?' Just right after John asked the question, the telephone ringed and he quickly picks up the call. After a few moments, he put the call 'It's Sam, he will be here in 30 minutes. I'll go clean myself', said John and he took his briefcase. He winked at Kate and Kate smiles while shook her head at John.
John walks pass through Haley's bedroom and found both of them there, sitting together on the bed facing the windows. Somehow they giggles and John peeking from the door that slightly ajar. He throws the towel that he used to brushes on his wet hair on the big basket at the end of the hallway before heading to the kitchen downstairs. He grabs a cookie from the cookie jar and walk past the dining table and saw Kate's phone ring. He notes to Kate that there is a call from Sam and quickly answers the call. Kate took off her apron and approached his husband. It seems that Sam lost the direction to their house and John gives the directions. Kate whisper softly to John asking where he is and John raised his eyebrows, immediately Kate got the answer. Kate calls her kids to come down. A few moments later, the sound of single door pick up heard at their front yard. Not waiting until Sam knocked on the door, John opens the door and greets Sam.
'Hey, bud!' greets John. He offers a hug.
Sam tote a travelling bag and he holds a small box 'Hey John. You look great'
'You too. Come on in', offers John. As they stepped in together, Sam noticed Kate standing between her kids. Kate offers a hug.
'It's been so long Katie', said Sam.
'I know', Kate hug Sam tightly and John watches the bonding. He understands the feeling. After a moment, Kate introduced Sam to her kid.
'Hello. I'm Sam. Your mom's brother. Do we look the same?', Sam joked.
Little Haley smiles and looks at her dad. John seems to understand what Haley's trying to tell him and he winked.
'Hello, Uncle Sam. My name is Harvey. It's nice to meet you', greet Harvey and he hugs him. As the attention moves towards cute little Haley in her yellow floral dress and yellow bandanna, Sam smiles 'Oh, this cute little bean, how should I call her?'
Haley smiles 'Hello My name is Halliesh' she then hug Sam. Harvey shook his head 'It's Halleigh, Uncle Sam. Haley does not even know how to say her name right since she lost both of her front teeth', explained Harvey. Kate tap on Harvey's shoulder. Haley's face turns red but then Sam manage to smooth her 'All right Haley, I got something for you', he then took out a tiny crafted wooden horse to the kids.
'Fantastic! Thank you Uncle Sam', said Harvey. As Haley kissed Sam on the cheek for the toy, Harvey brings his little sister to play at the living room.
John helped his wife to clean after dinner. It seems like Sam able to get along with the kids. After she was done the cleaning, John brew hot tea. The sound of heavy footsteps walking down the stairs and Sam continued to walk to the dining table. A few moments later, Kate comes with three steaming cups and a plate of chocolate chips cookies and put it on the table. It seems that the conversation is already started and Kate sits next to her husband.
'She wrote me a letter, says she want to get out from Haven. I knew that this is big and that's why I need to talk to both of you about this', said Sam. He gave the letter to Kate.
'We just watched her on the news couple days ago, she tries to escape from the asylum' said John.
'I know. I watched it as well', replied Sam. He took a sip of aromatic tea. 'The reason why I'm coming here is to talk about Abigail's medical condition. I went to visit her last week and the doctor said that she's improving. Even the people nurse her there told she's improving. She joined the community club. So I thought that maybe I'm gonna bring her home', explain Sam. Kate stunned by Sam's words.
John seems cannot make out point what is Sam trying to say 'You say that you gonna bring her home? But, she just escaped from the asylum. Is it …?' said John and before he could finish his sentence, Sam make out his point 'They said that Abigail's innocent. She had been forced by other mates to snuck out from the asylum. She's the one that surrendered all of them. She cooperated with police. She's sane, that what I've been told', said Sam.
'She did help to cooperate?', asked Kate. John looks at his wife.
'I know what you're thinking Katie. But this time, she's proving herself. I never ask you anything but this time, please Kate. Give Abby to live as normal people do. Give her a chance', said Sam. He moves closer to reach Kate's hand. 'She deserves a chance. Like us. I hope you'll think about it. She's your twin. The Other-half. ', said Sam.
It leaves Kate speechless. She has been thinking about it all night. John realized Kate has not to sleep yet right next to her. He hugs her 'Heavy thoughts?'
'Very much', replied Kate. She turns to John. 'You wanna know why I lied to you about Abby?', she looks to John.
'She's a dangerous person. When I'm with Abby, playing around, together, I always scared of her. I knew that she's being a protective sister but sometimes she can be so scary. She started to behave weirdly since we are little. It all began with the accident that we had. My dad hit the oak tree and there were just only three of us and a dog named Sally. Apparently were survived because of were lucky enough to wear a seat belt. But Sally, she's having a serious injury. While dad looking for back up, there were just me and Abby in the car. Sally gaps for air. We knew she barely survive but she took it differently. She killed Sally. She took the broken glass and cut Sally's throat. Her hand got injured and left a scar. It's on her right hand', said Kate. She started crying and John comforts her.
'I never meant to keep things from you. I'm sorry I lied. I'm just so scared', she continued. John continued to comfort her 'Shuhh, now. Look at me',
'Believe me, I got you. I'll protect us. Our family. I promised you', he kissed her forehead.
Next morning, Harvey woke Kate early 'What's wrong babe?', she looks at the clock. It's 6 AM and her head still numb.
'Mom. I'm hungry', said Harvey. Kate slowly rises from her bed and went to the kitchen with Harvey. She borrows Haley's bandanna and walks to the kitchen.
'What do you want for breakfast, Mr Kingsley?' asked Kate. Harvey walks fast to the kitchen.
'Scrambled egg!', said Harvey. Kate soon switched on the coffee machine and pour some water in and replace the coffee filter. 'All right then. Help me to break those eggs into the bowl'
'All of them?'
Kate nodded 'Yes bean. All of them. After you finish with the egg, I want you to go take shower, okay?
'All right Mom'.
After Harvey finished with the egg, he went to the window that shows the backyard. While Kate is preparing for breakfast, she heard Harvey's screaming.
'What's a wrong baby?', ask Kate. She then looks outside as Harvey's pointed out.
'Why Mr Muffin is there? Mr Muffin's dead', cries Harvey. Kate hugs her baby to calm him down. He wonders, who would do such a terrible act?
What happens at Kingsley's yard? Who is Mr Muffin?
Find out Next Chapter 5: